THE
PLURAL OF NOUNS
THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
Most nouns form the plural by adding -s or -es.
Examples
| Singular | Plural |
|
boat |
boats |
|
hat |
hats |
|
house |
houses |
|
river |
rivers |
A noun ending in -y preceded by a consonant makes the plural with -ies.
Examples
| Singular | Plural |
|
a cry |
cries |
|
a fly |
flies |
|
a nappy |
nappies |
|
a poppy |
poppies |
|
a city |
cities |
|
a lady |
ladies |
|
a baby |
babies |
There are some irregular formations for noun plurals. Some of the most common ones are listed below.
Examples of irregular plurals
| Singular | Plural |
|
woman |
women |
|
man |
men |
|
child |
children |
|
tooth |
teeth |
|
foot |
feet |
|
person |
people |
|
leaf |
leaves |
|
half |
halves |
|
knife |
knives |
|
wife |
wives |
|
life |
lives |
|
loaf |
loaves |
|
potato |
potatoes |
|
cactus |
cacti |
|
focus |
foci |
|
fungus |
fungi |
|
nucleus |
nuclei |
|
syllabus |
syllabi/syllabuses |
|
analysis |
analyses |
|
diagnosis |
diagnoses |
|
oasis |
oases |
|
thesis |
theses |
|
crisis |
crises |
|
phenomenon |
phenomena |
|
criterion |
criteria |
|
datum |
data |
Some nouns have the same form in the singular and the plural.
Examples
Singular |
Plural |
|
sheep |
sheep |
|
fish |
fish |
|
species |
species |
|
aircraft |
aircraft |
Some nouns have a plural form but take a singular verb.
Examples
- news
The news is
on at 6.30 p.m. - athletics
Athletics is
good for young people.
- linguistics
Linguistics
is the study of language.
- darts
Darts
is a popular game in England.
- billiards
Billiards
is played all over the world.
Some nouns have a plural form and take a plural verb.
Examples
- trousers
My trousers are
too tight.
- jeans
Her jeans are
black.
- glasses
Those glasses
are his.
others include:
- savings, thanks, steps, stair, customs, congratulations, tropics, wages, spectacles, outskirts, goods, wits
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